I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project Executive Summary What is the purpose of this document? This document discloses results of the environmental study for the Interstate 5 (I-5) Rose Quarter Improvement Project (Project). It is formally called an Environmental Assessment (EA). The EA evaluates the benefits and impacts within the Project Area of two alternatives: one in which the Project would move forward as planned (Build Alternative), and one in which the Project would not be built (No-Build Alternative). The “Project Area” represents the estimated area within which improvements associated with the Build Alternative are proposed, including where permanent modifications to adjacent parcels or construction activities may occur. Impacts are described as short-term or long-term. Short term impacts are primarily related to construction. Long term benefits or impacts are considered out to year 2045 and compare outcomes of the Project No-Build and Build Alternatives. Information contained in this document allows the public, businesses, interest groups, and agencies at all levels of government an opportunity to better understand the Project’s benefits and impacts. This information also supports transportation officials in making informed decisions about the Project that balance engineering and transportation needs with social, economic, and natural environmental factors, such as noise, air quality, and traffic patterns. This document will be formally submitted to the Federal Highway Administration, which will review it along with public comment prior to developing a decision on the Project. What is the purpose of the Project? The purpose of the Project is to improve the safety and operations on I-5 between Interstate 405 (I-405) and Interstate 84 (I-84), at the Broadway/Weidler interchange, and on adjacent surface streets in the vicinity of the Broadway/Weidler interchange. The Project also would support improved local connectivity and multimodal access in the vicinity of the interchange, improve multimodal connections between neighborhoods located east and west of I-5, and complement the land use, urban design, and transportation system envisioned for the planning districts of Lower Albina and Lloyd in the City of Portland’s Adopted Central City 2035 N/NE Quadrant Plan. Why is the Project needed? The Project is needed to address the following needs: 1. I-5 Safety: Data from 2011 to 2015 indicate the segment of I-5 between I-405 and I-84 had the highest crash rate in Oregon, approximately 3.5 times higher than the statewide average for comparable urban interstate facilities (Oregon Department of Transportation [ODOT] 2015). 2. I-5 Operations and Reliability: I-5, in the vicinity of the Broadway/Weidler interchange, experiences some of the highest traffic volumes (121,400 average annual daily trips) and hours of congestion (12 hours per day) in Oregon (ODOT 2017, ODOT 2012a). Travel reliability has decreased as periods of congestion have increased from morning and afternoon peak periods to longer periods throughout February 15, 2019 | ES-1 I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project the day. This portion of I-5 is also one of the top freight bottlenecks in the nation, hindering the efficient movement of people and freight. 3. Broadway/Weidler Interchange Operations: The configuration of the Broadway/ Weidler interchange is not standard and difficult to navigate. The high volumes of traffic in this area contribute to congestion and safety issues (for all modes) at the interchange ramps, the Broadway and Weidler overcrossings of I-5, and on local streets near the interchange. What are the Project goals? In addition to the purpose and need, the Project includes the following related goals: ● Enhance pedestrian and bicycle safety and mobility in the vicinity of the Broadway/Weidler interchange. ● Address congestion and improve safety for all modes on the transportation network connected to the Broadway/Weidler interchange and I-5 crossings. ● Support and integrate the following land use and urban design elements of the Adopted Central City 2035 Plan (which includes the N/NE Quadrant Plan) related to I-5 and the Broadway/Weidler interchange: ○ A diverse mix of Commercial, cultural, entertainment, industrial, recreational, and residential uses, including affordable housing ○ Infrastructure that supports economic development ○ Infrastructure for healthy, safe, and vibrant communities that respects and complements adjacent neighborhoods ○ A multimodal transportation system that addresses present and future needs, both locally and on the highway system ○ An improved local circulation system for safe access for all modes ○ Equitable access to community amenities and economic opportunities ○ Protected and enhanced cultural heritage of the area ○ Improved urban design conditions ● Improve freight reliability. ● Provide multimodal transportation facilities to support planned development in the Rose Quarter, Lower Albina, and Lloyd. ● Improve connectivity across I-5 for all modes. Where would the Project be located? The Project would be located along I-5 in both the northbound (NB) and southbound (SB) directions between I-405 and I-84 in Portland, Oregon, and includes the Broadway/Weidler interchange and the surrounding transportation network from approximately N/NE Hancock Street to the north, N Benton Avenue to the west, N/NE Multnomah Street to the south, and NE 2nd Avenue to the east (Figure 1-1). February 15, 2019 | ES-2 I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project What is the Project? The Project, or Build Alternative, would include the following elements related to both the highway and local street system (see Figure 2-5): ● Construction of auxiliary lanes and full shoulders on I-5 between I-405 and I-84 in both the NB and SB directions. ● Removal of existing overcrossing structures at N/NE Weidler, N/NE Broadway, and N Williams and replacement with a single highway cover structure over I-5. ● Removal and replacement of the existing N Vancouver Avenue overcrossing structure with a second highway cover over I-5, including a new roadway crossing at N Hancock and N Dixon Streets. ● Removal of the existing overcrossing structure at N Flint Avenue. ● Relocation of the I-5 SB on-ramp at N Wheeler to N/NE Weidler at N Williams via the new Weidler/Broadway/Williams highway cover. ● Construction of a new bicycle and pedestrian bridge over I-5 at NE Clackamas Street. ● Upgrades to existing bicycle and pedestrian facilities, including a new center- median bicycle and pedestrian path on N Williams between N/NE Weidler and N/ NE Broadway. Additional information on Project alternatives considered but dismissed is provided in Appendix A. What happens if the Project is not constructed (No-Build Alternative)? If the Project is not constructed (i.e., the No-Build Alternative), I-5 and the Broadway/ Weidler interchange, including most of the local transportation network in the Project Area, would remain in its current configuration. Improvements to I-5 that would enhance traffic flow and safety and new highway covers that would improve multimodal connections east and west of I-5 would not occur. Without the Project, congestion on I-5 and in the vicinity of the Broadway/Weidler interchange would continue to worsen and frequent crashes would continue to occur for all modes. Delays in the movement of freight on I-5 would continue to impose costs on shippers, businesses, and consumers. Traffic delay and vehicle/bicycle crashes on surface streets near the interchange would also continue to worsen. If the Project is not constructed, the City of Portland would be unable to implement some aspects of the land use components of the Central City 2035 Plan, as adopted. Some planned re-zonings to allow higher levels of employment or population density would not be allowed. This would limit allowed development within the Lower Albina and Lloyd planning districts. Other transportation improvement projects included Metro’s Regional Transportation Plan would likely be constructed. This would include the City’s plans to make improvements in the N/NE Broadway and N/NE Weidler corridor from the Broadway Bridge to NE 7th Avenue to enhance safety for people walking, bicycling, and driving through the Project Area. February 15, 2019 | ES-3 I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project What aspects of the environment are analyzed in this Environmental Assessment? This EA evaluates the potential for the Project to affect a wide variety of environmental resources consistent with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Technical Advisory T 6640.8A Guidance for Preparing and Processing Environmental and Section 4(f) Documents (FHWA 1987). The environmental topics addressed in this EA include the following: ● Air Quality ● Noise ● Aquatic Biology ● Right of Way ● Archaeology ● Section 4(f) ● Climate Change ● Socioeconomics ● Environmental Justice ● Transportation ● Hazardous Materials ● Utilities ● Historic Resources ● Water Resources ● Land Use ● Cumulative Impacts What areas within the City of Portland were studied to assess impacts on environmental resources? The areas within the City studied to assess environmental impacts from the Project generally include a corridor along I-5 extending south from I-405 to I-84 and the developed areas and surface streets near the Broadway/Weidler interchange. For the purposes of this EA, this area is referred to as the Area of Potential Impact (API). For most resource topics, the API is the same as the Project Area. However, for some resources (i.e., Hazardous